Find Academic Supervisors

Sarah MisyakView profile

Research Professor

• Food Access
• Nutrition Security
• Public Health Nutrition
• +3 more

Sarah Misyak, PhD, MPH is a Research Professor in the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise at Virginia Tech. She holds dual roles as Assistant Director and Program Manager for Research and Evaluation of the Virginia Cooperative Extension Family Nutrition Program, overseeing USDA-funded initiatives including SNAP-Ed and EFNEP. Her work focuses on food access, nutrition security, and program evaluation, particularly in low-income populations and school food environments. Education: PhD and BS in Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise (Virginia Tech, 2014 and 2006), MS in Public Health (George Washington University, 2019). Research emphasizes food retail environments, nutrition incentives, and mental health linkages with food insecurity. Recent projects include evaluating Virginia Fresh Match programs and SNAP-Ed implementation strategies. She collaborates with state agencies to improve school nutrition policies and tracks food insecurity impacts on maternal mental health. Key contributions include tool development for healthy retail assessments and frameworks linking food security to mental health. Her work prioritizes asset-based reporting to reduce stigma in nutrition education outcomes.

Molly K. ParkerView profile

Assistant Professor

• Dietary Assessment Methodology
• Sustainable Food Systems
• Social Determinants of Health
• +3 more

Molly K. Parker, PhD, RDN is a Collegiate Assistant Professor in the Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise at Virginia Tech. Her research focuses on dietary assessment methodology, sustainable food systems, and social determinants of health. She holds multiple graduate certificates including Public Health and Future Professoriate from Virginia Tech. Education: PhD in Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise (Virginia Tech, 2023) MS in Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise (Virginia Tech, 2019) BS in Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise (Virginia Tech, 2018) Graduate Certificates in Public Health (2022) and Future Professoriate (2021) Her research integrates sustainable dietary behaviors with planetary health, aiming to prevent non-communicable diseases through evidence-based interventions. Notable work includes developing the Planetary Health Diet Index and Healthy Beverage Index for children. Recent presentations address sustainable diets and weight bias in dietary reporting. Awards: Carol B. Papillon Dietetic Scholarship (2017) Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Hokie Spirit Scholarship (2016) Dr. Parker has extensive teaching experience as a Graduate Teaching Assistant and contributed to research roles since 2018. Her work bridges academic research with public health policy, emphasizing community-based solutions to improve dietary practices and address systemic health disparities.

Willandia ChavesView profile

Assistant Professor

• Conservation Psychology
• Wildlife Management
• Human Dimensions of Conservation
• +5 more

Willandia Chaves is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation at Virginia Tech's College of Natural Resources and Environment. She holds a B.S. from Universidade Federal do Acre (Brazil, 2001), an M.S. (2009), and a Ph.D. (2016) from the University of Florida. Her research focuses on the human dimensions of wildlife conservation, particularly how urbanization, migration, and generational change influence wildlife trade and resource use in the Amazon. She explores strategies to foster sustainable behaviors and policy through interdisciplinary methods like Conservation Psychology and Economics. Her research projects include investigating urbanization's impact on biodiversity and minority access to nature, as well as analyzing transportation networks' role in illegal wildlife trade. Courses taught include FIW 4984: Urbanization and Connecting to Nature. Key publications address wild meat consumption patterns, climate change adaptation, and the intersection of urbanization and conservation. Chaves emphasizes actionable solutions, such as turtle farming as a conservation tool and community-driven strategies to reduce illegal wildlife trade. Her work bridges academic research with practical implementation through collaborations like the Community of Practice in wildlife conservation.

Mary Ellen Michele HeislerView profile

Professor

• Chronic Disease Management
• Diabetes Research
• Glaucoma
• +4 more

Michele Heisler is a Professor at the University of Michigan with joint appointments in the Medical School and School of Public Health. She holds affiliations with the Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies and the Donia Human Rights Center, focusing on health equity for marginalized populations through clinical practice and interdisciplinary research. Her educational background includes: Medical Degree (MD) from Harvard Medical School (1997) Residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan Health System (2000) Fellowship in Internal Medicine at the University of Michigan Health System (2002) Dr. Heisler's research centers on chronic disease management, particularly diabetes and glaucoma, with emphasis on patient self-management, health disparities, and social determinants like food insecurity. She investigates patient-doctor communication dynamics and human rights intersections in healthcare, employing community-engaged methodologies to develop culturally tailored interventions for underserved communities including Latino and immigrant populations. Her 2022-2025 publications reveal consistent thematic focus on diabetes-glaucoma comorbidity management, structural barriers to care, and policy impacts on migrant health. Key methodological approaches include mixed-methods designs, community health worker collaborations, and behavioral economics frameworks, with strong emphasis on neighborhood-level social risk factors and financial toxicity in chronic disease outcomes. No specific scientific awards were documented in available sources. As a professor, Dr. Heisler mentors medical and public health trainees through clinical supervision and research collaboration, though specific advisees aren't listed. Her work is supported by federal and foundation grants targeting health disparities, with recent funding likely directed toward telemedicine interventions and migrant health initiatives. She leads the Support, Educate, Empower (SEE) glaucoma coaching program and INSPIRA diabetes prevention initiative through interdisciplinary teams at the International Institute. Current projects involve Federally Qualified Health Centers, integrating peer support networks and human rights frameworks to address barriers in eye care and diabetes management for linguistically diverse populations.

Lori BicaView profile

Professor

• Developmental Psychology
• Child Nutrition
• Gender Studies
• +3 more

Lori Bica, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, affiliated with the College of Arts and Sciences. She also holds an affiliation with the Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Department (REGSS). Her research focuses on developmental psychology, particularly lifespan changes in physical, cognitive, and social/emotional domains, alongside child nutrition and gender studies. Dr. Bica earned a B.A. in Psychology from Michigan State University, followed by an M.A. and Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from The Ohio State University. She joined UW-Eau Claire in 2000. Her teaching includes courses such as Introduction to Psychology, Human Development, and Psychology of Women, which also serves as an elective for the LGBTQ Studies certificate. She emphasizes collaborative undergraduate research, mentoring students in projects spanning multiple years. Her research mentorship focuses on teaching fundamentals of research design, including IRB proposals, data analysis, and conference/publishing preparations. Her scholarship includes evaluating the USDA Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program’s impact on children’s dietary habits, as well as studies on visual perception and body image in developmental contexts. She collaborates with students on diverse research topics rooted in their interests, such as proposals from her Psychology of Women course. Labs/Teams: Works with an undergraduate research team focusing on long-term, individualized learning experiences. Her work bridges psychology, education, and public health, with a commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration.

Lauren PearsonView profile

Research Fellow

• Gender Equity
• Active Transport
• Road Safety
• +3 more

Dr. Lauren Pearson is a Research Fellow and Equity Lead at the Sustainable Mobility and Safety Research Group within Monash University's School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine. Her work focuses on sustainable transport, gender equity, and public health, particularly addressing barriers to active mobility for women. She leads collaborative research projects with governments and NGOs, such as the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning, and has secured over $2.2 million in research funding. Education: Doctor of Philosophy (Medicine), Monash University (2022) Bachelor of Health Science (Hons), Monash University (2019) Bachelor of Human Nutrition, La Trobe University (2016) Research Interests: Lauren explores how equitable active transport (walking/cycling) can improve health, environmental, and social outcomes. Her mixed-methods research examines sociocultural and built-environment barriers to car dependency, with a focus on gender equity. She designs inclusive transport solutions through participatory methods and partnerships. Key Awards: FMNHS Early Career Postdoctoral Fellowship (2024) International Cycling Safety Conference Best Presentation Award (2022) John McNeil Prize for Public Health Research (2023) Advising & Grants: Accepting PhD students since 2021 Manged $2.2M+ in research funding Co-leads projects like the Canadian-Australian transport intervention program and the PETAL initiative for young women's bike riding Labs/Teams: Part of the Sustainable Mobility and Safety Research Group, collaborating internationally on transport equity and safety initiatives.

• Pharmacoepidemiology
• Health Services Research
• Public Health
• +3 more

Dr. Matthew James Alcusky is an Associate Professor in the Division of Epidemiology at the Department of Population and Quantitative Health Sciences, UMass Chan Medical School. He holds academic appointments at the T.H. Chan School of Medicine and the Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, where he contributes to programs in Clinical Investigation, MD/PhD Training, and Population Health Sciences. Education: PhD in Clinical & Population Health, University of Massachusetts Medical School PharmD (Doctor of Pharmacy), University of Rhode Island MS in Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Rhode Island Research Interests: Dr. Alcusky focuses on pharmacoepidemiology and health services research, leveraging large observational datasets to inform clinical practice and health policy. His work emphasizes medication safety, comparative effectiveness, and healthcare utilization patterns in vulnerable populations. Key areas include: Medication management in nursing homes Medicaid Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) Risk-based payment models for complex patients Social determinants of health and health equity Recent Article Trends: His publications from 2020-2025 highlight studies on: Medicare/Medicaid policy impacts on healthcare utilization Anticoagulant use in elderly populations Deprescribing strategies in nursing homes ACO implementation outcomes in Massachusetts Grants & Advising: Dr. Alcusky leads the independent evaluation of the Massachusetts Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) Program and advises MassHealth on pharmaceutical value assessment. He collaborates with the UMass team refining Medicaid payment models and risk-adjustment methodologies. Teams/Labs: Participates in multidisciplinary teams focused on health systems research, including collaborations with the MassHealth program and MGH/McLean Hospital networks.

Andrew BarnesView profile

Professor

• Agricultural Economics
• Uptake of Sustainable Farming Measures
• Efficiency and Sustainability Metrics
• +4 more

Andrew Barnes is a Professor of Rural Resource Economics and Head of the School of Natural and Social Sciences at Scotland's Rural College (SRUC). His research focuses on the socio-economics of agricultural production, including sustainable farming practices, climate smart agriculture, and animal health economics. He leads interdisciplinary teams and contributes to policy debates, including climate change mitigation and environmental land management systems. Barnes has advised organizations like the Royal Society and Defra, and collaborates with industry partners such as the Global Dairy Platform. Research Interests : Agricultural Economics, Sustainable Farming, Climate Smart Agriculture, Alternative Proteins. He has supervised over 25 MSc and 15 PhD students, contributing to educational programs like the BSc in Agricultural Economics (joint with the University of Edinburgh). Recent Projects include evaluating agricultural technologies, analyzing compensation impacts on disease management, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Scottish agriculture. His work spans global contexts, including Colombia and East Africa. Awards : Prize Essay Winner (1999), ONS Accredited Researcher (2024). He is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and executive member of the UK Agricultural Economics Society. Labs & Teams : Leads the Scottish Animal Health Consortium (EPIC) and contributes to Climate Exchange (CxC). His team investigates farmer behavior, innovation adoption, and farm-level environmental indicators.

Sylvia HristakevaView profile

Assistant Professor

• Health Economics
• Consumer Behavior
• Market Competition
• +3 more

Sylvia Hristakeva is an Assistant Professor of Economics at Cornell University, affiliated with both the College of Arts and Sciences and the Cornell SC Johnson College of Business. Her research focuses on health economics, consumer behavior, pharmaceutical markets, and retail economics. She explores topics such as drug pricing policies, advertising impacts on health outcomes, and the socioeconomic effects of grocery store closures. Her work bridges empirical methods with policy analysis, utilizing tools like text embeddings to assess food purchasing decisions and econometric models to evaluate legislative impacts. Recent studies include examining GLP-1 medication effects on consumer food choices and the consequences of price caps on pharmaceutical advertising. Dr. Hristakeva’s publications span interdisciplinary areas, combining insights from marketing, public health, and industrial organization. Her research emphasizes practical policy implications, such as optimizing retailer contracts and assessing smoke-free legislation’s role in reducing pediatric emergency visits.

Michele PolacsekView profile

Professor

• Public Health
• Nutritional Promotion
• Food Marketing
• +3 more

Michele Polacsek is Professor of Public Health and Director of the Center for Excellence in Public Health at the University of New England. Her research focuses on two primary areas: promoting healthy food choices in supermarket settings through financial incentives (particularly for SNAP users) and protecting students from harmful food marketing in educational environments. She currently leads a DHHS-funded study on nutrition and socialization for low-income seniors in Maine and serves as PI for Maine's SNAP-Ed program. Her methodological expertise includes randomized controlled trials and policy analysis. Research Interests: Behavioral interventions in food environments, policy impacts on dietary choices, digital food marketing in education, and community-based health promotion strategies for vulnerable populations.

Firman KartaadipoetraView profile

Associate Professor

• Microeconomics of Development
• Health Behavior and Outcomes
• Economics of Aging
• +5 more

Firman Kartaadipoetra is an Associate Professor at the Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University (ANU), within the Arndt-Corden Department of Economics. He holds a PhD in Economics from Michigan State University and was a Rockefeller Postdoctoral Fellow at Yale University. His research focuses on microeconomics of development, health behavior, aging, education, labor markets, poverty-gender intersections, and survey methodology. He co-led the Indonesia Family Life Survey (IFLS4 and IFLS5) and is affiliated with J-PAL MIT and Columbia University’s CPC Learning Network. As Lead Editor of the Bulletin of Indonesian Economic Studies, he publishes on Indonesian economic policy and development. His academic journey includes roles at the World Bank (2009–2013) and SurveyMeter (2013–2018), where he directed research on Indonesian socioeconomic issues. Current projects address climate resilience, tobacco farming political economies, and malaria’s long-term impacts. His work combines policy analysis with rigorous field research, emphasizing poverty reduction and institutional reform. Recent research highlights include analyzing Indonesia’s child labor policy reforms, political clientelism through land tenancy, and poverty among tobacco farmers. He emphasizes the need for evidence-based policies to mitigate unintended consequences in development initiatives. Grants include leadership in ANU’s Indonesia Project Phase V, exploring economic and environmental challenges in Indonesia. Firman’s interdisciplinary approach spans economics, public health, and political science, with a focus on Indonesia’s unique socioeconomic dynamics. His collaborations with international organizations and governments underscore his role as a bridge between academia and policy implementation.

Melawhy GarciaView profile

Associate Professor

• Type 2 diabetes self-management
• Obesity prevention
• Use of electronic health records for research
• +2 more

Melawhy Garcia is an Associate Professor in the Department of Health Science at California State University, Long Beach (CSULB) and Director of the Center for Latino Community Health, Evaluation, and Leadership Training. Her work focuses on addressing health disparities in underserved Latino populations through epidemiological research, community-based interventions, and student training programs. Education: B.A. in Psychology (CSULB), M.P.H. in Community Health (CSULB), Ph.D. in Public Health (Health Behavior Research) from the UCSD/SDSU Joint Doctoral Program, and postdoctoral fellowship at UCSD's Women’s Cardiovascular Research Center. Her research examines cardiometabolic health risks, diabetes management, and childhood obesity prevention among Latinos, utilizing electronic health records and community engagement strategies. She has led multidisciplinary projects like the LUNA-D study for diabetes care and Comprando Rico y Sano for nutrition education. Her work has been funded by federal and local agencies for chronic disease prevention, HIV/AIDS, and tobacco cessation. Scientific Awards: Clinical Research Award, NIDDK (2018) CSU Doctoral Incentive Program awards (2016) Hispanic Center of Excellence Scholarship (2014) CSULB Graduate Honors (2010) She mentors underrepresented students through experiential learning programs and collaborates with institutions including SDSU, UCSD, and the South Bay Latino Research Center. Her publications span journals like Journal of the American Heart Association , Childhood Obesity , and Translational Behavioral Medicine .

James FarmerView profile

Associate Professor

• Sustainable agriculture
• Dairying and pastoralism
• Rural landscapes
• +4 more

James Farmer is an Associate Professor at Indiana University's Paul H. O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs, where he directs the Food and Agrarian Systems Program at the Ostrom Workshop and co-directs the IU Campus Farm. His research focuses on small and mid-size dairy farms and rural communities in the Midwestern United States. Farmer's primary research interests include sustainable agriculture, dairying and pastoralism, rural landscapes, organic farming narratives, and food systems. His work examines how farmers make decisions about transitioning to organic production, with particular attention to narratives around farm-family legacy, economic values, environmental values, and religious stewardship. His publication record demonstrates consistent focus on agricultural systems in the Midwest, with recent work analyzing narrative frameworks that influence organic farming decisions, high tunnel technology adoption, farm succession, and food access for low-income communities. His research often employs mixed methods approaches combining quantitative surveys with qualitative insights from farmers. Narratives as influencers on organic production perspectives (2023) Barriers and opportunities to certified organic grain production (2022) Socioeconomic threats are more salient to farmers than environmental threats (2021) Farmer has secured funding from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture for projects related to organic farming adoption. His research has practical implications for agricultural extension services, policy development, and farmer-to-farmer learning programs focused on sustainable agriculture practices.

Kristin Landis-PiwowarView profile

Professor

• Cancer Biology
• Clinical Laboratory Hematology
• Proteasome Inhibitors
• +3 more

Kristin Landis-Piwowar is an Associate Provost for Academic Affairs and Professor in the Department of Clinical & Diagnostic Sciences at Oakland University's School of Health Sciences. She holds a PhD in Cancer Biology from Wayne State University, an MS in Clinical Laboratory Science from Michigan State University, and a BS in Medical Technology from Ferris State University. Her research focuses on cancer therapeutics, molecular mechanisms of blood disorders, and proteasome inhibitor development. Dr. Landis-Piwowar is the lead editor of Clinical Laboratory Hematology and a section editor for the Clinical Laboratory Science Journal . Her work bridges laboratory research and clinical applications, with notable contributions to understanding familial links in B-cell lymphoproliferative neoplasms. Additionally, she explores nutrient biomarkers in athletes and the impact of yoga on cardiovascular health. Professional affiliations include the American Society of Clinical Laboratory Sciences and the American Society of Hematology. Education: PhD, Cancer Biology, Wayne State University School of Medicine (Year not specified) MS, Clinical Laboratory Science, Michigan State University BS, Medical Technology, Ferris State University Research Themes: Cancer chemoprevention via proteasome inhibitors Molecular diagnostics and hematological disorders Nutritional factors in athlete health and burnout Yoga's cardiovascular and bone health benefits Her publications span over a decade, with recent focus on vitamin D-ferritin interactions, collegiate athlete wellness, and green tea polyphenol-based anticancer agents. She actively engages in healthcare education outreach and interdisciplinary collaboration within the School of Health Sciences.

• Economic History
• Business History
• Sustainability
• +3 more

Amélia Branco serves as an Associate Professor with Aggregation in the Department of Social Sciences at the Lisbon School of Economics & Management (ISEG), University of Lisbon. She maintains dual research affiliations as a researcher at CSG – Research in Social Sciences and Management and an integrated member of GHES, the research centre for Economic and Social History. Her academic profile centers on bridging economic and business history with contemporary sustainability challenges, particularly through historical analysis of Portugal's forestry and cork industries. Education: Aggregation in Social Sciences, History (2022), ISEG PhD in Economic and Social History (2005), ISEG Master's in Economics (Natural Resources, Environment, Energy) Her research program critically examines long-term economic patterns in natural resource exploitation, with special emphasis on how historical institutional frameworks shape current sustainability practices. She actively develops interdisciplinary methodologies that connect historical analysis with environmental science and policy studies, particularly regarding the 19th-20th century Portuguese forestry sector. This approach positions her as a key contributor to sustainability science through historical perspectives. Analysis of her 15 most recent publications (2019-2024) reveals a cohesive scholarly trajectory expanding from core economic history into sustainability education and public health. While historical studies of the cork industry remain foundational, her work increasingly addresses pandemic impacts on education and sustainability integration in academic curricula. This evolution demonstrates methodological flexibility in applying historical frameworks to contemporary societal challenges through interdisciplinary collaboration. Scientific awards: No major scientific awards or fellowships documented Advising and professional service: Branco has supervised 11 Master's theses on economic history topics including cork industry dynamics, dairy exports, and financial markets. She coordinates the PhD program in Sustainability Science and the Master in Design for Sustainability, driving curriculum innovation since 2018 and 2020 respectively. Her institutional leadership includes membership in ULisboa's College of Food, Farming and Forestry and roles in ISEG's departmental governance and electoral commissions. Research infrastructure: Through her integration in GHES and CSG research centers, Branco participates in collaborative projects examining economic history and sustainability transitions. Her coordination of sustainability programs has established interdisciplinary research teams focused on resource management education and sustainable development policy.